Surface condensing apparatus.



Patented Nov. I8. |902.

J. R. RICHMOND.

SURFACE GUNDENSING APPARATUS.

No. 713,80l.

(Application filed Feb. 25, 1902.]

(No Mudd.)

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JOHN RITCHIE RICHMOND, OF CATHCART, SCOTLAND.

SURFACE CONDENSlNG APPARATUS.

.SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 713,801, dated November 18, 1902.

Application filed February 25, 1902. Serial No.951529. (No model.)

To all whom t 77u14/ concern:

Beit known that I, JOHN RITOHIE RICH- MOND, a subject Of the King Of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of Cathcart, in the county of Renfrew, Scotland, (whose postal address is Holm Foundry, Cathca1t,cou nty Of Renfrew, Scotland,) have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Connection with Surface Condensing Apparatus, (for which I have applied for a British Patent NO. 16,5345, dated August 17, 1901,) Of which the following is a specilication.

My said invention has for its object to construct in an improved manner apparatus for removing the air and corrosive gases from the surface condensers of steam-engines, so as tO render the working ofthe pumps for this purpose steadier and more economical and also to render the water of condensation freer from corrosive action on the boilers, and in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same may be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings to be hereinafter referred to in describing the improvements.

The figure in the drawing is a side elevation, partly in section, of a portion of the condensing apparatus to which the improvements are applied.

In carrying out the invention the water of condensation is removed from the condenser by a pump Of any ordinary type controlled by a float in order to prevent it from drawing air along with the water, and according to the invention the air and gases are removed by an air-pump a, arranged, in combination with a centrifugal pump b, for supplying the circulating or cooling water to the condenser, the centrifugal or circulating pump being driven by a steam-engine c, working directV on the impeller-shaft d. The air-pump o, which is like an ordinary dry-air pump, is arranged in line with and over the steam-cylin der c Of the engine c and the pump-bucket g is Xed to a rod 7i, formed on or fixed to the the steam-piston rod and working through stuffing-boxes 7,; Z, formed, respectively, On the cylinder-cover m and the bottom of the pump, so that the air-pump bucket and the Steam-piston u thus work together. The air-pump d is provided with the usual inlets and outlets n p, 'the discharge-valve q only being shown. The bucket g works in a chamber r, fitted within the pump-casing s, and is formed with inlet-openings t, through which the air and gases drawn from the condenser pass to the upper side of the bucket, an annular space U being left between the pumpchamberrn and the main casing s. During the up or discharge stroke of this class of air-pump the air becomes compressed and sets up a resistance at the end of the stroke. With dry-air pumps as ordinarily Worked such resistance is not properly met Or Overcome, and consequently it causes unsteadiness and stiffness in the action of the pump. With my improved method of working the air-pump, however, all unsteadiness and stiffness of action is prevented, as the revolving fan Or impeller Of the circulating-pump, combined with the water moving through the pump, acts as a fly-wheel, so as thereby to steady the action of the air-pump and eiciently overcome the resistance at the end of the stroke due to the compression of air in the pump. Provision may be also made for water-jacketing the airpump cylinder-casing s and for furnishing a supply of cold water to extract the heat pro duced by the compression of the air.

lVhat I claim as myinvention is# l. In a surface condensing apparatus, in which a separate airpump is used to remove air and gases from the condenser, a steamengine and air-pu mp having pistons mounted on the same piston-rod, in combination with a centrifugal water-pump having its shaft directly connected to said piston-rod, all sub-- stantially as described.

2. In surface condensing apparatus in which a separate air-pumpis used for removing the air and gases from the condenser, a centrifugal pump for supplying the circulating or cooling water to the condenser, an engine for driving same and an air-pump the bucket of which is fixed to a rod formed on or xed to the piston-rod of said engine, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN RITCIIIE RICHMOND.

IVitnesses:

DAVID FERGUSON, GEORGE PATTERSON.

IOO 

